Even the Orthodox Jews are Capitulating

From CBMW:

Orthodox Judaism is going egalitarian.

The Jerusalem Post last week announced that the Shalom Hartman Institute, founded by noted Rabbi David Hartman, himself a modern Orthodox rabbi, will open a four-year program next year to prepare women and men of all denominations within Judaism-Reform Conservative, Reconstructionist and also Orthodox-for rabbinic ordination.


Read the rest here.

"Count Me In"

the new single from leeland

"I didn't choose you, you chose me first"

The Death of Bronner Burgess

From the Rick and Bubba website.

Song of the Harlot

In the night
The harlot moves across the floor
She turns the handle on the door
One hundred eyes
Seem to look right through her
Why she's there?
They're not sure
Behind her love
She falls down to her knees
Without a word
She begins to weep
And her tears
Fall down upon his feet
And she smothers them
With kisses
And she dries them
With her hair

In my life
Sorrow has kissed my lonely heart
Fear of man tears me apart
And I've tried
But many times I've loved the world
Many times I've been the whore
I've cried a million tears
Maybe more
So many times
I have been the whore
I will fall down
On my knees
I will sing"I love, my love"
I will weep"I love, my love"
I will sing
Cause I love, my love
And my tears will fall
Down upon your feet
Let me smother them
With kissesLet me dry them
With my hair
If I could be
Anyone at all
If I could be
Anyone at all
Let me be
The whore at your feet

from the violet burning

Smug

Strike this little pose
Chin up in the air
Lips together tightly
Nostrils in a flare
Now look like you care
Very nice!

Practice in the mirror
Brushing back a tear
Very sincere
A promising career could begin right here at home
If you've got that smug...
That smug...

Hey mama hey mama lookee what your little babies all have become
Hey mama hey mama don't it ever make you wish you'd been a nun?
Vain and fickle, were we weaned on a pickle?
Is it in our blood?
Rome is burning
We're here turning smug

Strike another pose
Power politics
Swallow their conventions
Get your power fix
We love to mud wrestle
We love to be politically Koreshed

Practice that smug
Pose it like a man
One part Master Limbaugh
Two parts Madame Streisand
Now pretend you're in a band
My, my, we're looking smug
Very very very smug

All you smug-starved millions in the thick of the search
Welcome to our church
Whatcha wanna solve?
We can help you evolve from merely self-righteous
To perfectly smug
Strike the proud pose of our country club brethren
Friendly as a tomb
Fragrant as the bottom of a locker-room broom
Now what's the matter?
Hey...get off your knees...that part don't come 'til later...God will not be pleased...

Hey mama hey mama lookee what your little babies all have become...

Rome is cooking
My, we're looking smug

Thank you Steve Taylor

Does God Have a Sense of Humor?

Now, this is funny.

The Centrality of the Gospel

Tim Keller on The Centrality of the Gospel

“…the Christian life is a process of renewing every dimension of our life – spiritual, psychological, corporate, social – by thinking, hoping and living out the “lines” or ramifications of the gospel. The gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving.”

Read the whole thing here.

Jesus at Shoney's, Week 1

This morning was our first meeting of Jesus at Shoney's...actually it was our second but last week was just intro and grits. At 6:45 am we gathered at Shoney's, ate grease and discussed the first chapter of Vintage Jesus which I discussed here. There were a number things that needed to happen (humnaly speaking) for this to go well.

First, they had to actually read the first chapter. Getting teenagers to read is like getting Presbyterians to sing songs written in the past hundred years. It happens but is rare.

Second, they had to show up. After all we meet at 6:45 am. AM...the juxtapostion of those two letters is the beginning of many nightmarish scenarios for the average teen.

Third, they needed to like it or the first two might not happen again. The only thing most of my youth are used to reading by choice is gaming magazines, menus and their wall on facebook. I do have some who read but they are no where near the majority.

Fourth, for this to work they had to enjoy the book. It is nearly impossible to discuss anything at 7 am. A boring book would kill Jesus at Shoney's real quick.

Fifth, they needed to come ready to discuss and not just listen to me talk and pry. Since it is after all a book discussion.

By God's grace all of this happened. I had high hopes for Jesus at Shoney's and the first week has not disappointed. One reason is the readability and shocking nature of the book. Most books written for young people are terrible. They are shallow, boring, cheesy, condescending or just plain goofy. This is none of that. It is deep while understandable. Witty and serious. Sarcastic while still respecting the questions of those who have not bought into Jesus. All in all it is a fresh wind blowing through Christology without bringing anything new into the room.

The Gospel and Personal Evangelism

Since even before seminary I have read a number of books on evangelism. This one by Mark Dever is the best I have in giving a biblical apologetic for personal evangelism. It is altogether convicting and encouraging. You can read it in one sitting...if you happen to be sitting for a couple of hours like I was.

Religion Saves and 9 Other Misconceptions

Mark Driscoll, the pastor for preaching at Mars Hill and the genius behind Acts 29 has started his new preaching series based on this.

Phew!

Glad to hear the guru on all things missional is ok.

Discerning a Missional Mileau

Oh man, there is some good stuff here.

Presidential

23 - 20

Help with Bible Memory for the New Year

Last week I started this Bible Memory program and I very pleased already with the results.

The reasons I think this is a good program are as follows...

1. It sends tests to your email inbox so you cannot escape the accountability.

2. Because it is in your email inbox I will not forget it.

3. I am able to work through Bethleham Baptist's Fighter Verse Program.

4. You get to choose the version of the Bible you prefer.